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Cited by 231Aging and Gerontology ResearchAging, Health, and DisabilityHealth disparities and outcomes

Social Support and Successful Aging: Investigating the Relationships Between Lifetime Cognitive Change and Life Satisfaction

Gow, Alan J., Pattie, Alison, Whiteman, Martha C., Whalley, Lawrence J., Deary, Ian J.·2007·Journal of Individual Differences
DOI 10.1027/1614-0001.28.3.103
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Abstract

Abstract. Social networks or support may contribute to successful aging. The Lothian Birth Cohort 1921 had their mental ability assessed at age 11 and 79. Almost 500 participants also rated their life satisfaction, social networks, and support at age 80. After controlling for age-11 IQ, sex, years of education, and social class, loneliness was the only social network/support characteristic adding significantly to the prediction of age-79 IQ, explaining about 2% of the variance; in old age, increased loneliness was associated with lower cognitive ability. Social network/support factors accounted for 23% of the variance in satisfaction with life ratings, with the greatest contributions from reduced loneliness (~12%) and having someone to talk to (~6%). Social network/support characteristics explained a greater proportion of the variance in life satisfaction ratings compared with later life cognition, although an individual's level of loneliness emerged as the largest single social support predictor of both outcomes. Possible causal pathways for these associations, which need to be studied in future research, are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1027/1614-0001.28.3.103

Cites

44 of 44 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Cross-sectional associations between greater loneliness and lower cognitive ability have been documented in several studies.

    “Cross-sectional associations between greater loneliness and lower cognitive ability have been documented in several studies (Gilmour, 2011; Gow et al., 2013; Gow, Pattie, Whiteman, Whalley, & Deary, 2007)”

    From Longitudinal Associations Between Loneliness and Cognitive Ability in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (2019) · cites this paper as Gow, Pattie, Whiteman, Whalley, & Deary, 2007

  • Perceived isolation predicts lifetime IQ change and depressive symptom changes beyond objective isolation.

    “Similarly, perceived isolation has been found to predict lifetime change in IQ36 and changes in depressive symptoms37,38 beyond what could be predicted by objective isolation.”

    From Social isolation (2011) · cites this paper as [36]

  • Living alone in later life may increase the risk of poor cognitive function.

    “Living alone in later life may increase the risk of poor cognitive function (Gow, Pattie, Whiteman, Whalley, & Deary, 2007;Gow, Corley, Starr, & Deary, 2013;van Gelder et al., 2006;Yaffe et al., 2009)”

    From Living alone and cognitive function in later life (2019) · cites this paper as Gow et al., 2007

  • Individuals who live alone may have less frequent opportunity for social contact, may be more isolated, and may feel more lonely than those who live with others, which may result in reduced cognitive stimulation and lower cognitive reserve.

    “Individuals who live alone may have less frequent opportunity for social contact, may be more isolated (Carstensen, 1992;de Jong Gierveld & Havens, 2004;de Jong Gierveld, 2003;Kobayashi et al., 2009), and may feel more lonely (Newall et al., 2014;Victor et al., 2005) than those who live with others, which may result in reduced cognitive stimulation and lower cognitive reserve (Gow et al., 2007).”

    From Living alone and cognitive function in later life (2019) · cites this paper as Gow et al., 2007

  • The present findings are inconsistent with one study that reports an association between living alone and cognitive function determined by a measure of IQ at baseline (Gow et al., 2007).

    “The present findings are inconsistent with one study that reports an association between living alone and cognitive function determined by a measure of IQ at baseline (Gow et al., 2007).”

    From Living alone and cognitive function in later life (2019) · cites this paper as Gow et al., 2007

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Authors
Gow, A. J., Pattie, A., Whiteman, M. C., Whalley, L. J., & Deary, I. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Individual Differences
Publisher
Hogrefe Publishing Group
Published
2007-07
Volume
28
Issue
3
Pages
103-115
ISSN
  • 1614-0001 (ISSN-L)
  • 2151-2299
DOI
10.1027/1614-0001.28.3.103
OpenAlex
W2140961087
Cited by
231
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
FWCI
7.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Individual Differences (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Keywords
social support, successful aging, loneliness, social networks, life satisfaction, cognitive ability, Lothian Birth Cohort 1921, older adults, causal pathways

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